Fall Arrest Rescue Harnesses EN1497 & EN361

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Rescue Harnesses are all EN361 for fall arrest though are also EN1497 for Vertical rescue in confined spacers.

This category offers rescue harnesses manufactured to European standard EN361 and EN1497 used for fall arrest, restraint and vertical rescue applications. The harnesses are commonly referred to as rescue harnesses which is a bit of a misleading term as all height safety harnesses can be used to rescue the person wearing the harness should they fall while working at a height. The EN361 element of the harnesses means it is suitable for fall arrest and rescue while connected to the fall arrest anchorage connection ‘D’ ring on the back (and front in some cases) of the harness. EN1497 standard means that the harness is also fitted with a rescue connection / ‘D’ ring. The EN1497 rescue connection cannot be used for fall arrest, it is only to be used for casualty rescue. When rescue equipment is connected to the EN1497 ‘D’ ring the casualty is lifted vertically (not leaning forwards or backwards) allowing passage through small access chambers such as a man hole in confined spaces. EN361 / EN1497 rescue harnesses must be thoroughly examined and re-certified by a competent person at periods no greater than 12 months. This is a maximum period; refer to the manufacturers operation and user manual for further detailed information.

The term rescue harness is very misleading as all harnesses are designed to be rescued while wearing.

These harnesses are not designed for professional rescuers, mountain rescue teams etc please look in the Rope Access Harness category.

Rescue harnesses as advertised in this category are harnesses that are designed to lift a rescued casualty in true vertical position, so that they can be lifted through a tight opening such as a confined space like through a manhole.

One very important consideration is that the connections on the harness for vertical rescue are not fall arrest anchorage connections, the fall arrest anchorage connections on the harness will retrieve a casualty at an angle (not vertical) and therefore changing anchorage points after a fall is necessary to rescue in the vertical position.